Dartford Toll payment

Dartford Toll payment

Dartford Toll payment by midnight the day after crossing the Dartford Bridge or used the Dartford Tunnel.

If you’re late or don’t pay Dartford Toll you can a fine. 

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Dartford Toll

Dartford toll payment

  • pay with cash at your nearest  store
  • Register by post
  • either pay or set up an account by phone
  • Dartford Toll call centre
  • By Telephone
  • Open Every day  5 am till midnight opening times are different during Christmas and New Year and bank holidays Additionally we may record your call for quality and training purposes. If you are an existing registered user, you may get a text or email after your call to ask for your feedback.

Dartford toll payment general Information

Motorists who use the Dartford Bridge or Dartford Tunnel need to pay Dartford Bridge or Dartford Tunnel. You have until midnight the day after you made the crossing to pay the charge.

Pay Dartford Bridge times are between 6 am and 10 pm. It’s free to use between 10 pm and 6 am.

How long do I have to pay?

When you use the crossing, you have until midnight the day after you cross to pay the toll.

Late payment fine

If you forget to pay on time, you’ll get a £70 fine, which reduces to £35 if paid within a fortnight – although if you fail to pay within 28 days, it goes up to £105.

How to appeal a penalty Charge

Similar to other penalty charge notices if you wish to appeal the fine, you can do so online, but you only have 28 days to appeal once being issued with a fine.

You will be given the chance to submit any evidence.

Such as your vehicle being in a different place at the time, or a receipt of the transaction proving you paid. Should your appeal fail, the only other option besides paying is to go to an independent tribunal.

Dartford toll history

Completed in 1991. It was built by a joint venture between Kvaerner Construction Limited and Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company.

The central span is 450 metres (1,476 ft) long. 84 metre high steel pylons are located above 53 metre high concrete piers giving the bridge a total height of 137 metres. The approach viaducts on the Essex side measure 1,052 metres (3,451 ft) and 1,008 metres (3,307 ft) on the Kent side, giving a total length of 2,872 metres (9,423 ft). It has an expected life span of 120 years.

It accommodates four lanes of southbound traffic from the M 25. With daily traffic flows of 150,000 vehicles the crossing suffers regular traffic congestion.

When built, the Dartford Crossing was only the second bridge on the River Thames east downstream of London Bridge.

Constructed in over a thousand years, and it is currently the only bridge east of Tower Bridge.

About Dartford toll

The Dartford Crossing joins Dartford and Thurrock across the River Thames, forming part of London’s orbital M 25 motorway and the furthest-downstream road crossing of the Thames. It consists of two tunnels under the river, normally used for northbound traffic, and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, used for southbound traffic.

Dartford Crossing, completed in 1991, is a four-lane cable-stayed bridge.

Designed by Dr. Ing Hellmut Homberg and Partner and Kvaerner Technology Limited. It was built by a joint venture between Kvaerner Construction Limited and Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company.

When opened, the bridge was Europe’s largest cable-supported bridge.

The central span is 450 metres (1,476 ft) long and is suspended 65 metres (213 ft) above the Thames to accommodate ocean-going cruise liners.

84 metre high steel pylons are located above 53 metre high concrete piers giving the bridge a total height of 137 metres. The approach viaducts on the Essex side measure 1,052 m (3,451 ft) and 1,008 metres (3,307 ft) on the Kent side, giving a total length of 2,872 metres (9,423 ft). It has an expected life span of 120 years.

It is a toll bridge and accommodates four lanes of southbound traffic from the M 25. With daily traffic flows of 150,000 vehicles the crossing suffers regular traffic congestion.

When built, the Queen Elizabeth Bridge pay was only the second bridge on the River Thames east downstream of London Bridge.

High Speed 1 passes under the bridge between the bridge supports on the north Essex side and tunnels under the river just east of the bridge. The rail line passes over the exit ramps of both of the road tunnels.

Dartford toll payment methods

You can pay the Dartford Bridge tolls with Cash, or a valid Credit Card or Debit Card,

Alternative payment methods

Use the crossing today or yesterday Dartford Bridge pay as you go for crossings made.

Pay Dartford Bridge in advance for journeys you plan to make, all payments are valid for one year.

Pay by cash, a valid credit or debit card in a local store convenient to you that accepts Pay zone as a payment method.

If you’ve already made crossings in the vehicle you want to add to this account, they will have to be paid for separately

Apply for a local resident discount

You can only get a discount for 1 vehicle. You must provide evidence – you can upload or photograph your documents, or send them by post for checking.

You’ll need:

  • Your vehicle details

  • A current Council Tax bill that matches the address in your application

  • Proof you live in Dartford Kent or Thurrock Essex, a gas, electricity or water bill , bank or credit card statement, income support book, rent document or driving licence.

  • Proof your vehicle is registered in Dartford Kent or Thurrock Essex, a copy of your V 5 C vehicle registration or a vehicle lease in your name.

  • A debit or credit card.

Dartford Toll payment times

The charge applies between 6 am and 10 pm with every vehicle required to pay. The charge is payable every day of the year. It is free to use between 10 pm and 6 am.

Why is the Dartford Bridge becoming permanent?

The Dartford Bridge is in place to manage demand rather than pay for infrastructure. The Crossing was designed to handle 135,000 vehicle crossings a day, but currently it is not uncommon for 160,000 vehicles to make the trip. Research from 2001 indicates that lifting the toll could lead to a 17% rise in traffic.

Is there a toll on the M 25?

Strictly speaking there are no tolls on the M 25. The Dartford Crossing is part of the orbital route but not a part of the motorway. The Dartford crossing Charge applies on the A 282 between M 25 junctions 31 and 1 A.

Are the Dartford Bridge cameras always on?

The Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras capture images and record vehicle registrations for every journey. It’s important not to rely on loopholes in the system and to pay the charge on time and every time.

What happens if you pay Dartford Bridge late?

If you fail to pay the Dartford Bridge by midnight of the following day of your crossing, you will have to pay a fine of £70. This will halve to £35 if you pay it within 14 days but increase to £105 if you don’t pay. You’ll also have to pay the original fee.

What happens if you forget to pay Dartford Bridge?

If you forget to pay Dartford Bridge before or on the day of crossing you have the option to pay by midnight the day after you cross.

Is the Dartford Bridge free at night?

The Dartford Bridge is free of charge between 10 pm and 6 am. Charges apply every day including weekends and bank holidays.

Is the Dartford Bridge free for disabled people?

If you’re driving a vehicle exempt from vehicle tax because you’re disabled, you won’t need to pay the charge. There’s no need to inform anyone about this as the Dartford crossing Charge system checks automatically.

If you have a Blue Badge but still pay road tax, you have to pay the Dartford Bridge.

Who owns Dartford Bridge

Dartford Bridge is owned by the United Kingdom Government. Highways England manages the crossing on behalf of the Department for Transport. Connect Plus Services operates and maintains the crossing on behalf of Highways England.

Dartford Bridge Height restrictions

The two Dartford Crossing Tunnels are subject to different height restrictions.

When travelling northbound towards the tunnels, you must get in the correct lane after junction 2 and before junction 1 a you will not be able to change lanes after junction 1 a.

Height restrictions are: 4.8 metres for lanes 1 and 2 left hand tunnel 5.0 metres for lanes 3 and 4 right hand tunnel Vehicles above 4.8 metres must not attempt to join the northbound carriageway at junction 1 a. Instead, follow the solid diamond symbol, and join the A 282 at junction 1 b, where you can access lanes 3 and 4, and the right hand tunnel.

If you drive in the wrong lanes you will cause disruption to your journey, and impact the journey of other road users.

Speed limit

When the crosswind speed reaches 50 mph or the headwind speed reaches 60 mph, speed limit signs at the crossing will reduce to a limit of 30 mph.

Lane Closures

Lane closures are introduced if the crosswind speed reaches 55 mph or the headwind speed reaches highs of 65 mph.

If the wind is from the east, lanes two and four will be closed; if the wind is from the west, lanes one and three will be closed.

Dartford Crossing high winds Bridge closure

When crosswinds reach over 60 mph, the QE II Bridge completely closes to all traffic.

All these precautions can be kept in place until high winds have passed.

“When the crosswind speed reaches 55 mph or the headwind speed reaches 65 mph, lane closures will be introduced.

“If the wind is from the east, lanes 2 and 4 will be closed, if the wind is from the west, lanes 1 and 3 will be closed.

Abnormal load charge schedule

Large vehicles and/or abnormal loads which exceed any of the following restrictions have to pay an abnormal load charge in order to travel with an escort through the Dartford Tunnels.

Between 6 am and 10 pm

Wider than 2.75 metres – £42

Longer than 18.75 metres (overall length) – £42

Wider than 6.10 metres – £190

Longer than 27.40 metres (overall length) – £190

Greater than 150,000 kg – £190

Between 10 pm and 6 am

Wider than 2.75 metres – £21

Longer than 18.75 metres (overall length) – £21

Wider than 6.10 metres – £190

Longer than 27.40 metres (overall length) – £190

Greater than 150,000 kg – £190

When a vehicle is between 4.8 metre and 5 metre in height, it has to travel through the East Tunnel which has a slightly higher height restriction.

For goods vehicles of that size carrying a an abnormal load they will have to travel through this tunnel.

The procedure followed is very similar to that followed in the West Tunnel, but there are a few differences.

They will again perform a series of checks before clearing the tunnel of any traffic. Once it has been confirmed that the tunnel is clear, warning lights will be lit.

Once the convoy has exited the tunnel the operator will then informed of this.

Traffic will then be led back through the tunnel by a traffic officer, and once CCTV establishes that traffic has returned to normal warning messages will be cleared.